the biggest factor in fatigue might be the critical hours between midnight and 8 a.m. night work, a lot of night work which deploys you of opportunities to get good nighttime sleep is going to be the major driver of fatigue. >> reporter: earlier this year metro reported dry cams on metro buses showed 67 drivers in a 19-month period fill error asleep at the wheel. >> whether we see that, they're taken off duty. we check to make sure they have no medical problems, sleep apnea. >> and we look at the hour they work to so if that has an influence on them. >> reporter: metro can't restrict the hours employees work because of the way overtime is awarded. instead, it's recommended that drivers who start work between 3 and 5:00 a.m. should go to bed earlier. >> even having people turn in earlier as a mitigation measure does not mean that they not going to wind up potentially working a double or triple shift. >> reporter: overall, the

number of workers affected by fatigue appears small. but the problem is big. a study of railroad workers found when the effectiveness of tired workers fell below 70%, the risk of accidents went up. >> and the problem is you can't necessarily eliminate that shift. these people are building trains in rush hour. >> we have to figure out how they can do that job and be well-rested and alert. >> reporter: some workers load up on coffee to stay awake. do that all of the time, and experts say it loses its affect. bottom line, workers need sleep. >> reporter: in the coming months, metro plans to have some workers log their work and sleep habits. a small number of them will wear a monitor like a wristwatch that will record their activity 24/7. and this should help them determine, will, whether workers truly are getting enough sleep. >> anything that helps. thank you. metro has been trying to make safety a priority for some workers. but some are still not getting

the message. a survey of metro workers found a majority witness safety violations. in fact, 15% said they could not report safety violations or concerns without fear of retaliation from coworkers. overall, 53% claim that they witnessed a safety violation or concern and only 43% report anything. metro said that that is an improvement over a similar survey done nearly two years ago. the news o.j. d.c. of the the puck will hit the ice tonight. before you get too excited you should know that the caps are not playing. the minor league team, the hershey bares, the -- bears will take on the new york admirals. the hockey fans are dieing for action out there and matt ackland is live with more and to tell us why business owners are happy. >> reporter: it's about the mean. you know there is a lot of

businesses and restaurants, bars around the verizon center and when the caps don't play, they take a beating. when they can't take in the revenue, they have to cut back on the hours employees are hire saided and -- hired and those employees take a beating. the verizon center transformed downtown, bringing many businesses and jobs to the area and they rely on the customers. >> they get hurt the most and -- they normally would be -- and on to christmas eve right now. >> reporter: preparations are underway for a big night. the staff is added, the kitchen is stocked and standard procedure for caps games except this season, there hasn't been any and tone's minor league hockey comes at the right time.

>> absorter: a similar story outside of the verizon center. >> and that is about 60%. >> reporter: when the caps play some managers double their staffs. recently, able to do that. tonight, it's all hands-on deck. >> and they love the atmosphere and we try to provide that for them. >> reporter: over the years, this is a popular place for tourists and locals who are coming here to see dinner or a movie and this place is keeping busy. they're not vacant and could do better if the caps were playing as they typically do, will. >> and thank you. let's talk about the nhl lockout. it's taken a positive turn.

a bargaining session went on les and also, team players and six owners attended the meeting. previously, only four players were allowed. the nhl deputy commissioner said it was the best day since negotiations. the edge on maryland tonight. a 17-year-old student from gruder high school is in custody after bringing a gun to campus. octavio esitiveez was barred from -- estevez was barred from school today. a school resource officer stopped him and hold him to leave. when the officer checked then to's book bag, he found a .22- caliber handgun. the gun was not loaded. president obama took the fiscal cliff to virginia today. he visited a home in fall's church to talk with one family about how ending the bush-era tax cuts for the middle class would affect them. the high school teacher tiffany santana shares the house with her parents, her husband and her son. she recently contacted the white house about how paying $2,200 more in taxes would hurt

them financially. >> if this family has a couple of thousand dollars left to spend, that translates into $200 billion of less consumer spending next year and that is bad for businesses large and small. >> president obama said that he supports keeping the bush-era tax cuts for the middle class but ending them on incomes over $250,000. lawmakers have until january 1st to strike a deal. just a short time ago the national christmas tree was lit. president obama and the first family joined a star-studded cast to help usher in the holiday season. sue palka was there and joins us live tonight from the ellipse. hi, sue. >> reporter: you're catching me at a perfect time. we're into the entertainment. we just had jason moraz leave the stage. he's a terrific performer and here comes the fray. i'll tell you what, this crowd is loving the performances

tonight. still caleigh and james taylor. i'm looking forward to hearing him, too. the first family is here and they're seated riguez from modern family is sitting with them and he's had great back-and-forth going on with neil patrick harris, the host of the show and all is going well and, if you miss the lighting of the tree, this is a look at the countdown and, of course, the great moment itself when the tree was lit and this is a new tree, just planted in mid- october. it grows here at the ellipse, and we're hoping it will be here for many more years to come. the last one didn't make it, and the one before that blew down in a big windstorm in february of 2011. all is going well here. i'm going to send the -- send it back to you in the studio. we'll have more in a bit. >> gorgeous. we're look at that tree lighting right now to just -- and that is just gorgeous. 500 strands of lights, 20000 people surrounding sue palka and the tree right now.

still ahead on the news edge six, the world is watching syria tonight. growing concerns over the country's chemical weapons and whether they're ready to be fired. very scary here. >> and then a bizarre turn of events. a hospital guru hospitalized after weeks on the run. scott, what is coming up in sports? >> one of the nfl's all-time interceptions leaders is not to be feared, says rg3. a look ahead at the skins and ravens and reid and the burgandy and gold defense. are things starting to click? the skins report is coming up. will. will. . >> thank you, scott. we'll be back in just a moment. again, another look at the national christmas tree lighting. lighting.

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. in syria earlier today, this amateur video captured large explosions blowing up buildings in damascus. concern is growing. the civil war taking a potentially vicious turn. there are reports that president assad's military might be arming planes with nerve gas bombs. secretary of state hillary clinton warns of grave consequences if he uses them. >> we have support a unmistakable message that this would cross a redline. and those responsible would be held to aowcount. >> -- acount. >> a senior u.s. official tells fox news the gas bombs must be deployed within 60 days for them to bousable. if syria does cruise them, it could -- does use them, it could kill thousands within minutes. already, 40,000 syrians have lost their lives in the nearly two-year war. military tanks are patrolling the streets in cairo. the protech comes after violent clashes between supporters and

opponents of egyptian president. the mobs have battled with fire bombs, rocks, and sticks. since the constitution drafted last month gave morsi more power. he still plans to pass the constitutional referendum as a new charter. stop atf agents could lose their jobs for the role in the failfurious program. the disciplineiry board recommended the senior officials be terminated because of their mishandling of the gun- running operation. a report stated the special agent in charge and his team reverted to using risky gun walking tactics. the operation was drain ised to track guns to major weapons, trafficker -- was designed to track guns to major weapons and traffickers but many of the guns wound up in the hands of mexican smugglers. mcafee is in the hospital tonight after going into convulsions and suffering two heart attacks. it happened hours after guadamalan officials rejected his bid for asylum. he was arrested for illegally

enterring the country yesterday and that is where he turned up after weeks in hiding. mcafee is a person of interest in a november killing of his american neighbor in belize. and coming up here on the news edge at 6. >> now, of course, every visit with santa is special. but today, there is a bit of extra holiday love in these visits. i'm beth parker. i will tell you why coming up.

. another live look at the 90th annual holiday tree lighting ceremony on the ellipse in the president's park, the ellipse park. one of america's nearly 400 national parks. and let's lissen in for a moment. it's first lady michelle obama and rico rodriguez from modern family. let's listen. >> a bundle of toys he had slung on his back and he looked like a peddler, opening his pack. >> his eyes how they twinkled,

his dimples so merry, his cheeks so rosie, his nose like a merry. >> his mouth was drawn up location a bow and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. >> the stump of his pipe held tight to his teeth and the smoke encircled his head to the wreath. >> he had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly. >> he was chubby and plunk, and i laughed when i saw him in spice of myself. >> they are doing a great job. and this year's giant blew spruce is new transplanted in october on the ellipse and it's strong with 450 strands of l.e.d. red and green lights and cold gar -- gold stars. there it is. beautiful behind the first lady. you know, it's a holiday tradition. the annual photo with santa clause. at one mall in the area, those coming to see santa were lining

up to see something they never experienced before. beth parker was there, too. >> they will be here at any minute. >> reporter: he parked the sleigh and hitched a ride down on the elevator. you won't hear the traditional ho-ho-ho. instead, he gives you a sign. i love you in sign language. the crowd here at fair oaks mall signalled back. >> okay, here we go. >> reporter: little luke has hereditary nerve damage that prevents him from hearing frequencies. between his ears was a giant smile. >> he is appreciative and excited about things. >> reporter: for one day here at the mall, santa and his elves communicate by using their hands. luke's mom michelle said it's a long way from when she was a kid with hearing loss. >> knew i would like to sit in the front of the class and i knew that, you know, i had trouble hearing. really, i was never tested and

didn't know until i was in college. i had a hearing disability. >> reporter: signing santas are tough to come by and this one has a day job, a teacher of american sign language. and he heard the call to duty and got to work today. >> santa has loved the children today. >> reporter: the idea for a santa grew this year and based on the movie ice age 4. >> reporter: welcome to the ice power. >> reporter: the first-ever feature film with picture-on- picture signing on the deed and blu-ray. they quickly got on board. >> and tagging with the teachers. they would cheer up and i would do the same. and today is an emotional morning. this is the first time for mothers and they love to communicate their wishes to santa.

>> and oh, he's like me. he can sign and talk like i can. >> and that deserves a big -- . >> thank you. >> beth parker, fox 5 news. >> and can you believe we're 19 days away from christmas and officially feels like it in washington. at 5:52 this evening, president obama and the first family flipped the switch at the national christmas tree lighting on the ellipse. as we showed you a moment ago, an exciting night and our own sue palka is there for all of the fun. sue n sign language, i'm saying hi, is it hi -- h-i. there we go. >> and high -- hey, will, how are you? >> it's a great light here. we have had terrific performances and on stage now is kobe caleigh. he's go -- she's going to be joined by jason moraz. the crowd is so into the performers and when the fray was, everyone was standing up and going crazy for the performance. and they going to speak in a

few minutes. we have heard mrs. obama as you showed, was reading twos the night before christmas with rico rodriguez, and everyone really is enjoying the season, enjoying the beautiful crisp night and this, of course, gorgeous tree. the tree will be lit every night between now and january 1st. and if you get it to come down in the evening, can you hear a lot of local performers who will be entertaining you through the holiday season, and so, the 90th lighting of the national christmas tree has been a big success, even if it did get started late. a few more performances ago, i am looking forward to hearing james taylor saying and, of course, the president of the united states, again, is going to have a few words for the crowd of 20,000 that is gathered here in just a bit. the tree is a 30-foot blue spruce from northern virginia, and i think it's going to have a nice happy home. back to you. >> i would imagine so. thank you, sue. and no matter what your politics are, and we talk about

politics in washington, 20,000 people are doing that. >> i think sue's probably done that. she tells me that something like 11 or 12 years in a row or something like that. >> she's no dummy. she's been around for awhile. >> she was -- . >> and she's been there. she actually does the warm spot to stand on the riser and knows where it is. >> well, you know, good for sue and good for all of those people braving all of the traffic, too. i know it's a mess down there by the ellipse. >> yeah. >> and a cold light, in fact. i would hope that most people would bundle up. >> and cold and not windy. yo yeah. >> that makes the difference.nshine, and of course, down there, they're going all evening and look at how beautiful the setting is, too. and they do such a great job there bringing that altogether and making it very very colorful. we expect that most of us see it on television and get down there live to see it. the tree's down there on through christmas and beyond, too, and that is a nice thing to see.

today, the temperature 44 and dulles, 45; bwi marshal, 42. a lot of folks started off in the 20s, too and col41 now, gaithersburg at 36; frederick is driving and 32 degrees right now. winchester 34. the cloud garsing to come across -- the clouds are going to come across and thicken up. how much will the temperatures drop before they thicken up? that is important. we're watch something showers develop here and have some cold air at the surface, warmer air coming in and that is creating some of the showers here and that is moving in our direction. we have to be very, very special out there and those counties in northern secs of, well, nothing in maryland and into pennsylvania will have a chance. that is a slight chance that there is a pocket or two of freezing rain. and there is your fox 5 accuweather seven-day forecast and 51 tomorrow, and some clouds on saturday. >> gary, thank you.

we're going to talk about smith right after the break. the break. . >> i want to say happy holidays to my identical twin center in washington from alexandra, virginia. this is sergeant wanda womack, south korea. happy christmas, merry christmas, kwanzaa and all of that. i can't wait to see you guys real soon.